September 23, 2026 / By rachel
The River Wye is one of Hereford’s greatest assets, although over the years it has not shown much respect for property boundaries.
For Week 29 of our #40Projects40Weeks series, we are looking at Gwynne House and Warehouse, where an ambitious riverside warehouse conversion helped rescue two deteriorating buildings and establish a new destination beside the river.
A New Left Bank
When RRA became involved, years of seasonal flooding had left Gwynne Warehouse in critical condition, with significant damage to its timber structure and historic fabric. The adjoining Gwynne House was Grade II listed, and the whole site occupied a particularly sensitive position between Hereford Cathedral and the historic Wye Bridge.
The client’s plans extended beyond saving one tired warehouse. The buildings were to become part of the new Left Bank complex, bringing together eateries, offices, conference facilities and event spaces beside the River Wye.
Gwynne Warehouse was converted into a conference and exhibition venue, while Gwynne House became offices. This required substantial repair, but also a design capable of accommodating modern facilities without overwhelming the character of the existing buildings.
Planning for a Rising River
At the time, the site had been flooding at least twice a year, so the interiors also needed to cope sensibly if water did find its way inside. To accommodate this the scheme incorporated several flood-resilient features. Electrical services were introduced at first floor level and dropped down from above to the ground floor. Floors and wall finishes were selected so they could be cleaned easily, drains were incorporated directly into the floor and breathable, limewash paint allowed damp walls to dry out naturally.
These measures were a precaution rather than an invitation to the river. If flooding occurred, the ground-floor event space could be cleaned and returned to use within approximately 24 hours.
Around four or five years after the project was completed, wider defences, such as flood barriers, were installed by the council and these significantly reduced the frequency of flooding, although they could not remove it completely. Afterall, any building standing this close to a river must retain a healthy respect for it.
Everything in Its Place
The modern facilities presented another challenge. Toilets, small kitchenettes, storage, a lift and a small office were all necessary, but fixing them throughout the old structure would have caused considerable disruption to the existing fabric.
Instead, they were gathered into freestanding pods within the building. The approach developed an idea RRA had used successfully at All Saints Church in Hereford, allowing the new elements to remain clearly contemporary while the original structure stayed visible around them.
The pods contained an impressive number of practical necessities without trying to become the main attraction. Every building needs something prepared to do the useful jobs quietly in the background.
Across the River
Almost directly opposite Gwynne Warehouse stands The Watershed, another vulnerable riverside warehouse given a new future by RRA.
Work on its flood-resilient conversion began the following year, using many of the same principles: robust materials, services introduced from above and a ground floor able to recover after occasional flooding. The architectural response was very different, but the practical lessons learned beside the river continued across it.
This project is part of our #40Projects40Weeks series, celebrating 40 years of RRA Architects through some of the projects, people and stories that have shaped the practice. If you have missed any of the previous posts, you can catch up on our News page.
See the Gwynne Warehouse project page and architectural details.
About RRA Architects
Established in 1986, RRA Architects works across all sectors and provides architectural services from initial feasibility and concept design through to completion. We undertake projects nationally, working primarily across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, the Cotswolds, the West Midlands, South West and South Wales.